More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

David Copperfield

(1850)Semi-autobiographical novel by Charles *Dickens, published in monthly parts from May 1849. The main characters in the young David's life are: his old nurse Clara Peggotty, who marries the phlegmatic carrier Barkis (his proposal to her is the cryptic message, 'Barkis is willin'); David's childhood sweetheart, little Em'ly, who is related to Peggotty; his schoolfriend, the handsome and brilliant Steerforth; and the impecunious but eternally optimistic Mr Micawber, whose economic philosophy in relation to his '*annual income' has become famous.

David lodges in Micawber's house after being sent by his brutal stepfather to a life of drudgery in London, where he pastes labels on to bottles for a living.

Other characters are David's wealthy but eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood, who previously rejected her nephew for not being a niece but who now helps him; and the lawyer, Mr Wickfield, whose daughter Agnes falls in love with David.

Not at first appreciating Agnes, David marries the pretty but childish Dora Spenlow. Meanwhile David himself is becoming a successful author; Steerforth has persuaded little Em'ly to run off with him to foreign parts and has there abandoned her; and Agnes's father has fallen into the clutches of his clerk, Uriah Heep, the hand-wringing master of false humility (' I am well aware that I am the umblest person going').

In the end Steerforth is drowned in a shipwreck, Em'ly is safely recovered by her family, Mr Micawber is instrumental in frustrating the schemes of Uriah Heep (who ends up in prison with a life sentence) and David, whose wife has died young, marries Agnes.